The Green Sheen, a recent panel by The Media Majlis at Northwestern University in Qatar, looked at the environmental effects of hosting mega sporting events and the impact of sustainability initiatives. Northwestern Qatar Professor Susan Dun joined Talar Sahsuvaroglu, sustainability and environmental senior manager at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy for a panel discussion with Northwestern Qatar alum Hazar Al-Kilani moderating.
Dun and Sahsuvaroglu began by explaining that the term sportswashing refers to hosting sports events to improve a tarnished reputation and greenwashing describes how hosts of the events use sustainability and environmental initiatives to deflect attention from other controversial issues.
According to Sahsuvaroglu, the pandemic and blockade hampered Qatar’s ambitions to deliver a carbon-neutral World Cup “The reality is,” she said, “that we went through two difficult years where all projects in the world were delayed, and so the actual timing of when we are going to be carbon neutral is not finalized yet.” Despite these challenges, she said Qatar remains committed to hosting the first carbon-neutral tournament and employing sustainability planning and building practices in hosting the tournament.
Dun and Sahsuvaroglu began by explaining that the term sportswashing refers to hosting sports events to improve a tarnished reputation and greenwashing describes how hosts of the events use sustainability and environmental initiatives to deflect attention from other controversial issues.
According to Sahsuvaroglu, the pandemic and blockade hampered Qatar’s ambitions to deliver a carbon-neutral World Cup “The reality is,” she said, “that we went through two difficult years where all projects in the world were delayed, and so the actual timing of when we are going to be carbon neutral is not finalized yet.” Despite these challenges, she said Qatar remains committed to hosting the first carbon-neutral tournament and employing sustainability planning and building practices in hosting the tournament.
“Should there be things like international commitments to human rights? Absolutely. Should countries strive to improve the working conditions for all workers? Yes. Should one country be focused on at the level that Qatar has been focused on and with a lack of evenness in the coverage of the changes that happen? That is what I think is problematic and where the bias is”
- Susan Dun, associate professor in residence
In addition to advancing environmental and sustainable policies in Qatar’s political agenda, Dun said that the World Cup has helped score some positive legacies for the country across several social issues that went underreported, including women’s participation in sports and labor issues. When asked about the legitimacy of the negative media Qatar has received since winning the bid to host the World Cup, Dun went on the highlight the disparities in Western media’s coverage of Qatar compared to previous host countries.
“Should there be things like international commitments to human rights? Absolutely. Should countries strive to improve the working conditions for all workers? Yes. Should one country be focused on at the level that Qatar has been focused on and with a lack of evenness in the coverage of the changes that happen? That is what I think is problematic and where the bias is,” said Dun.
The Green Sheen comes as part of a series of panels and public events hosted by The Media Majlis at Northwestern University in Qatar on the sidelines of its current exhibition on sports and media, Is it a beautiful game?. To learn more about the museum and its programs, visit www.mediamajlis.northwestern.edu
“Should there be things like international commitments to human rights? Absolutely. Should countries strive to improve the working conditions for all workers? Yes. Should one country be focused on at the level that Qatar has been focused on and with a lack of evenness in the coverage of the changes that happen? That is what I think is problematic and where the bias is,” said Dun.
The Green Sheen comes as part of a series of panels and public events hosted by The Media Majlis at Northwestern University in Qatar on the sidelines of its current exhibition on sports and media, Is it a beautiful game?. To learn more about the museum and its programs, visit www.mediamajlis.northwestern.edu
